Frank Lockhart’s Slick Speedster Reborn

Land Speed Racer-Recreation at the LA Roadster Show

You’ll never know what you might see! Wandering the huge-anic swap meet at the LA Roadster Show, I found this:

(Click to see full size)

Feast your eyes on the not-quite-finished replica of Frank Lockhart’s Stutz Blackhawk Special. Handmade and very accurate from what Ned told me to the original. It’ll even run a special, rare-like-you-wouldn’t-believe Miller 4 cylinder engines. (that’s one reason it’s not done yet)

Why? I don’t know… cause the owner can I guess! I wanted more info, but the guys were already loading the car into the trailer (you gotta see it in the pics below) when I showed up and with the sun beating down, it was all business for them. If you know more about the car, please get in touch.

To learn more about the original car and the crash that took the life of Frank Lockhart, here’s a few links. You should know, at the time, Frank was the youngest Indy 500 winner and the record holder for most laps led from the start (81 Laps). Not to mention, the guy was race car engineering super-genius.

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8 Comments

Incredible vintage video of the Stutz Blackhawk’s run and crash. Great stuff.

Jun20

pikesan

Thanks Bill! Isn’t it nuts how the car goes ripping out of the airplane’s view?

Sep15

John Webster

I believe the engines were Miller double overhead cam 4 valve per cylinder centrifically supercharged straight eights. Frank had become famous for his ability to squeeze a few more horsepower out of these Duesenberg beaters than anyone else.

Sep16

pikesan

Thanks John! If you now more about Frank, I’d like to hear it… maybe for another story?

Many years ago, someone I knew tried to put together a deal to build an exact replica of the Stutz. The original blueprints are in California and the original engine (183cu.in. V-16 ?) is in the Indy Museum. The engine was available, providing the finished car was donated to the museum. But, sadly, the original drawings could not be obtained, so, the project was stalled.

This replica appears to be very, very accurate, except for the 4-cylinder Miller engine.
I think, the V-16 was two Miller 91 cu.in. straight eights on a common crankcase, but not sure.